I used to love Brothers and Sisters for its over-the-top Boomer Friendliness; it's one of the few networks shows that actually features token Youngsters, while most of the starring characters are either Boomers or Borderline Boomers. (I include the link here, but ABC has one of the worst network Websites, ever.) But now, with this week's episode, "Holy Matrimony," the show has hit a new low. In the first two seasons, it has hit every one of the Three Cheap Tricks in the sitcom book: Death, with the patriarch of the Walker family dying in the show's beginning; Birth, with the arrival of the Walker twins (added bonus, another Death, since one died); and,now, Marriage, with 
the completely bogus ceremony of Kitty Walker and her beloved who is also her boss and a Presidential candidate, Senator Robert McCallister.
The nuptials included all of the Walkers, including sister, sister-in-law, and half-sister, all wearing identical, strapless bridesmaid dresses. But, oops, the groom's children were nowhere to be seen. Maybe they weren't invited.
I'll admit, however, that there were several good lines, however. Sarah Walker is trying to help Kitty Walker, an avowed political conservative, write her wedding vows. She suggests:
"What about this? Our love is like the war -- out of control, endless, without reason."
The line is thrown out so quickly, with Kitty responding, "This is not a time for funny," and then moving right on. But, yay, Big Liberal Dig. Zing!
Later, the newly-separated Sarah Walker asks her half sister, Rebecca, a question.
"Do you see any guys in my age group?"
"Some of the Secret Service guys are hot," Rebecca says.
"Yeah, they're hot, but they're so cold," she responds.
That's funny, and clever too. Too bad so much else is so.... trite.
The Great TiVo, which in all likelihood you've missed--since everybody in America has--was the season
finale of Brotherhood. A riveting, intense Showtime show about the intersection of small-city American politics and small-city American crime, the end of Season Two was dignified and haunting. No phony cliff-hangers or moving rites of passage (see above), just a completely convincing and moving ending that can lead everywhere. Or nowhere.
Only thing they have in common, really, other than being TiVo-able, is that both have dreadful Websites.
By the way, still NOBODY from Wyoming! Offer still good: First husband or wife living in Wyoming who answers my survey gets a Starbucks Gift Caddy. Really.
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